Breaking: Britain’s Ban on Pit Bulls Extended to Previously Legal Breeds
Published on March 26, 2009 by Alison Green · 13 CommentsAn anti breed specific legislation group has reacted in horror to the confirmation that previously legal dog breeds and cross breeds are to be caught up in the net designed to outlaw ‘Pit Bull Terrier type dogs’.
Legislators in the UK have put together a piece of law which will ban previously legal breeds and cross breeds. The bill will, it is promised, see Britain free from dog attacks by ‘the dangerous dog breeds’.
Legislators behind the bill claim it will “eradicate the more dangerous dogs that can inflict injury upon children” and will better protect the public from serious, fatal dog attacks. They go on to set out the grounds of the new bill and exactly which dogs could fall foul of the new legislation.
Any dog weighing in excess of 20kgs.
Any dog in excess of 16” of height to the shoulder.
Dogs carrying liver, black, white or brindle markings.
The bill will not take in to account parentage, breed or DNA profiles. Any dog weighing over 20kgs or taller than 16” to the shoulder could be banned. It is acts regardless of the behaviour exhibited by the dog meaning any dog that fits the criteria above will be in breach of the new bill. Any dog who falls within the above criteria must be neutered, tattooed, chipped and kept on lead and muzzled at all times in public. Owners must also ensure their dog is covered by special third party liability insurance.
The bill also makes it illegal to be in possession of, sell, give away, allow to stray or advertise an un-exempted dog fitting the illegal criteria. Owners in breach of the law will find themselves liable for prosecution, which could lead to a fine, criminal record and up to six months in prison. The dog will also be seized and destroyed.
With the bill finalised the authorities will spend millions of pounds building up teams to enforce the law and ensure dangerous dogs are taken and destroyed. For those who may be affected by the new legislation the following information may be useful.
Still reading?
I’ll bet you are.
The bill I’m talking about is actually the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. It’s not new. We’ve had it for a while. And I apologise if it caused you to gulp as a result of the manner in which I presented it.
Your dogs aren’t illegal. Well not most of them anyway. Some of you may have a dog that someone pushes into “pit bull type” and sadly you’re not safe.
But I am willing to bet some people’s hearts were a flutter. Welcome to the world of anyone who owns a dog that *might* catch the attention of an over zealous DDA enforcer who sees a large, shall we say for example, Staffy x Boxer and decides he’d better nab it and get it off the streets ‘just in case’.
If that seems cruel, indiscrimnate and likely to tear people’s lives apart, it’s because it is and it does.
So technically, and make no mistake about this, previously legal (and still legal) breeds and cross breeds ARE being caught up in the vicious ‘pit bull net’.
How cruel it is to tell people their dog’s illegal because it’s a bit tall or a bit heavy. But remember that lump you had in your throat for a moment back then, thinking it might be your dog about to get caught in the DDA dragnet, that’s the daily life for many owners of perfectly legal dogs as they live in fear. Fear about walking their dog. Fear about taking their dog to the vets. Fear every time the door is knocked. And why? For no other reason other than they own a dog which happens to look a certain way.
Good people, just like you, the person reading this, have their dogs removed because it doesn’t look right. You may be a little bit hacked off at me right about now but you know what? Be grateful you got a second chance to own your pet without fear. BSL is similar to cancer. It spreads. If you want to keep a hold of your feeling of security help repeal the law. It’s not your dog today and in all probability it won’t be your dog tomorrow, but someone’s dog is going to be taken and someone else’s dog will lose its life – purely because of how it looks. This can’t go on.
Highly Recommended: This could be the most important link you EVER click as far as your dog’s life is concerned – see why….!
I spoke to someone just after crufts, an elderly gentlemen who owns a bull breed mix, his pride and joy, his friend went to crufts shopping on the last day and thought he overheard that the DDA might get repealed somehow, anyway he gets home and rings his friend straight away to tell him the good news-that his dog might be okay, the old guy has been waiting for four years to freely take his dog out, his in tears thinking that the law might change, because his dog is friendly, sleeps on his bed, loves the grandchildren, if only they could go out to the park and not have to worry his dog will be taken from him, people like him live it every day. His friend at crufts got it wrong, a false alarm for dog owner and so he waits for news that one day it will change before his dog is too old to enjoy the sun on his face.
Alison, a thousand curses upon you! the air in my house was a distinct shade of deep blue then as I read the first part.
You are right of course.
An amendment or order upon the lines you first quoted would not surprise me at all, especially in light of the forthcoming Scots legislation.
After twenty years of increasingly reluctant enforcement of the DDA s.1 you almost had me mutinying!
My poor 40Kg BLACK & Tan GSD's.
I already know the trauma that innocent owners experience when faced with s.1 allegations. This was a timely reminder to everyone what it entails.
Good item.
Great article!
Although i hate the breed ban & feel angry & saddened when dogs are killed, i cant know just how bad the owners feel, this article has given me a little bit of insight & a reminder not to forget. i went cold imagining my gsd taken.
Yeah me to Sheila. I don't think it's right – not all dogs are to blame for due one dogs mistake? To of which when was that? I do hope they put a ban to the BSL.
Alison;
I have a photo array that I got from PBRC, that shows 30 dogs and ask the person to pick out the Pit Bull, I have found that 90% of the people pick out a Jack Russell or some other type dog, meaning that only 10% of those who claimed that they knew who a Pit Bull were, could actually identify one. I can send it to any Pit Bull Lovers who want it.
Sincerely;
Roger Cotterman
id like a copy of the pic, was once on a train with a canadian ch red staffy and heard a guy tell his girlfreind that is a pit bull cos you cant get red staffies, i felt sick reading the first bit and all my staffies are under the weight and height but are white, have signed every petition i know of, if theres any more please post them
@Amber,
Thats really sad, but not as sad and terrifing as having to rush your dog to the vets because he has just become another victum of a bull type dog attack,
Its ok because hes lucky, and only lost half a ear and my bite on my leg from trying to protect my dog was not life threating,
How about people with these type of dogs showing respect to other dog owners and living inside the law, and keeping thier pets under control.
Its not the breeds fault its thier owners.
It is unfair that pit bulls should be pigeon holed like this. Yes, they are powerful dogs, but it is not the breed that attacks – many small dogs are aggressive but are not considered dangerous purely because of their size, even though they can bite. It is the owners that must control their dogs, and I have seen many fighting breeds that are gentle, calm and pose no threat as they are trained by their owners so they are balanced.
lol omg how silly, cant get red staffies, i used to breed staffies, i had many colors come from the bitch i had.
i was jaw dropped reading the first part, just the thought of losing our rescue german shep after all she has been through before we got her, not being able to see her have a long happy life, just a few teeny happy years, shocking. i do sign all i can, this should all be stopped, its never the dog, i grew up around german sheps and rottweilers, ive owned both breeds along with staffies, ive also hand reared bull mastiffs ready for adoption, i was mauled by a german shep once, nearly had my hand taken by another, and i was once given a lurcher by the rspca which subsiquently attacked me, tried to attack my dad and went for my then 2 year old child who was only walking accross the room while he lay on the sofa, ive never held it against any of them, i hold it against the owners and the rspca who should not have given a dog like that to some one with a young child.
insidently i love pits and i wish the ban where lifted
I think its the owners not socialisning them early on rather than the actual breed.
i think the ban on pitbulls is loads of bollocks because of some bad owners the whole bread is targted, i had police knock on my door and my dog licked and played with them and hes a red nose pitbull now i might loose my dog and i am really gutted and sad just thinking about them putting him down brings tears to my eyes, i have hafd my dog since he was 6weeks old and now he is 3 years old and i bare to be without him. i hope thy dont take my dog away from me
@Sandra – The majority of bull breed owners do keep their dogs under control, live inside the law and DO respect other dog owners, how about you get a better idea and do some research of the breeds you are talking about before you comment because labs and collies bite more than any other breed of dog and labs can cause SERIOUS damage when they attack. Also how dare you speak of them as ‘these types of dogs’ like you have the GIVEN RIGHT you ignorant blinkered nasty piece of work don’t start generalizing breeds of dog you know NOTHING about (other than a FEW encounters, with DOESN’T count has having knowledge of the breeds) your a disgrace to all TRUE dog lovers!